Title: 러브캐처 | Reobeu Kaecheo | Trust Game: Love Catcher | Love Catcher
Genre: Romance | Reality TV
Season: 1, 2, 3
Episodes: 8 / Season
Broadcast Network: Season 1 & 2: MNet | Season 3 : CJ ENM
Broadcast Period: Season 1: July 11 to August 15, 2018 | Season 2: August 22 to October 10, 2019 | Season 3: November 19, 2021 to January 7, 2022
Synopsis:
It is a reality TV series which have 10 attractive and single contestants and will spend time together in Love Mansion for 8 days and 7 nights with a series of challenges so they can find the partner they want to end up with at the end of the game. They are secretly categorized depending on their goal for joining. One category is being a Money Catcher. A Money Catcher can win almost USD 50,000.00 if they are able to find and pair with a Love Catcher at the end of the game. However, if they end up pairing with a Money Catcher as well, they will not win anything. The second category is Love Catcher. The Love Catcher will have the possibility of finding love if at the end of the game the contestant will also end up choosing and being chosen by another Love Catcher. If the contestant chose and chosen by a Money Catcher, then, sadly, the contestant will be heartbroken. And, unlike most dating reality shows, these have hosts who also plays the game at the end of every show by giving their analysis and answering the question forwarded to them at the start of the show based on what they’ve watched. The winner will receive a real gold Love Watcher coin.
Characters:
Season 1:
Hosts:
- Shin Dong Yup
- Hong Seok Cheon
- Jang Do Yeon
- Lady Jane
- Jeon Gun Woo
- Kim Jong Hyun
- Tony Ahn On Episode 5
Contestants:
- Lee Chae Woon
- Ki Tae Hwa
- Ko Seung Woo
- Lee Hong Chang
- Oh Ro Bin
- Kim Ji Yeon
- Hwang Chae Won
- Joo Ha Gyung
- Kim Sung Ah
- Han Cho Im
Season 2:
Hosts:
- Shin Dong Yup
- Hong Seok Cheon
- Jang Do Yeon
- Cheetah
- DinDin
- Lee Hong Bin
Contestants:
- Kim Min Seok
- Park Jung Jin
- Jang Yeon Woo
- Jung Chan Woo
- Kim In Wook
- Kim Se Kyeong
- Song Se Ra
- Lee Young Seo
- Kim Chae Rang
- Kim So Young
Season 3:
Hosts:
- Jang Do Yeon
- Son Ho Jun
- Cho Mi Yeon
- Kwon Hyuk Woo | Loco
- Lee Soon Kyu
Contestants:
- Jung Dana
- Lee Haneul
- Lee Yeomin
- Lee In-Seong
- Yang Jimin
- Yoon Jungwoo
- Seo Jaehyung
- Ahn Jimin
- Jung Suwo
- Kang Won-Jae
My Review:
Season 1: I wasn’t expecting much except be entertained. Luckily, not only I was entertained but extremely became engrossed with its mind games. This is the 2nd reality TV dating game I’ve seen. The first one was “Single Inferno” on Netflix. Though, it was very popular, I have honestly much enjoyed this one.
Season 2: With much fun after watching Season 1, I cannot help myself but proceed in watching Season 2. In fact, I was really curious what happened to the contestants of Season 1 after the show. On Season 2, the production spiced it up a bit and made more challenges that are quite interesting to see. Plus, as a viewer who have viewed Season 1, I also played like a host if I can guess the answer correctly in every episode. It is fun to be correct but become cynical when I am wrong. It just proves how well people can play you especially when it comes to emotions.
Season 3: Honestly, this is my least favorite Season. One, the love mansion is not as beautiful as the 2 Seasons, probably, because it is in the Metropolitan area, thus, the look and feel is totally different from the other Seasons. Second, the new hosts are quite bland. In fact, except for Jang Do Yeon, who was part of the 3 Seasons, the young ones seem to be there as a decoration for the young audience. The analysis and thoughts are not as deep and engaging as the other 2 Seasons. Third, I cannot connect much with the contestants and, I wasn’t surprised that no one changed their category at the latter part because not much substance in their interactions or relationship were actually built among the contestants. This is probably because it also doesn’t have fun challenges to begin with in making the game even for everyone.
So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?
(1) I thoroughly enjoyed the hosts of Season 1. It was a perfect blend of different generation and not just catering to the young audience. Shin Dong Yup is a perfect captain of all the hosts by giving good insights to the rest of the hosts. Hong Seok Cheon brings fun and light to the entire journey of the game. I love him in making the analysis of the hosts and the game they play far more interesting and fun. Jeon Gun Woo is quite impressive in how he gets the mindset of the contestants and made intelligent guesses on their psyche. Jang Do Yeon and Lady Jane gave typical assessments on women’s point of view. They also show how women get really into it when a handsome man also comes with the entire package especially when they say the right words. Kim Jong Hyun gave youthful insights and provided the best example how young generation think now. For Season 2 and 3, the correct blend of hosts became less and less. I actually don’t get it why the production changed the hosts as it changes Season especially on Season 3. Cho Mi Yeon and Sunny might as well became a decorator with not much substance to give in analysis.
(2) The concept of this dating reality TV when it comes to psychological mind games people play when dating, the way we judge generally people, our biases and what really is important in relationships made it very apt. It provides us many lessons and shows typical human nature no matter what your culture maybe. In fact, the amazing thing about SK reality TV is that they can make it interesting to watch by using their great talent of focusing more on human emotional interaction rather than the Western reality dating games that’s more physical and sexual in nature, hence, rarely I get attached and believe to the fantasy the show is playing and promoting.
(3) Both Season 1 & 2 have provided interesting games and challenges. Also, less pressure of being the one not chosen in every opportunity. Unlike Season 3, that it has somewhat provided more chances for a contestant to be left out or even feel different like what happened to Yang Jimin, just because of age difference and Seo Jaehyung, whom one may not like because of being ostentatious of his wealth and too confident for his own good.
(4) It does provide an insight of a lot of common human nature like the need of everyone to be accepted, validated and love. It also shows that people can indeed fool you especially if motivated by money.
(5) The games and challenges they play are quite interesting. It shows the skills and talents one do need for relationship to flourish especially important ones like knowing how to cook, communication skills, and the ability to assess a situation.
(6) Enjoyed seeing the sights and places one can enjoy in South Korea especially on both Season 1 & 2. The love mansions they did the shoot are all beautiful especially in Season 2.
(7) This made it apparent that as people age especially in Season 3, the older you become the more money becomes a priority rather than love especially with women.
What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?
I didn’t like much Season 3 as the focus is more on the couples that have instantly formulated the bond. I also didn’t like that others can see how many have chosen one contestant or even some ways that it became more exclusive rather than inclusive. Season 3, though, indeed gave a realistic view of how jaded people are when they live in a metropolitan area and how women can be as manipulative and conniving as men are. It also would have been nice if there was after show event to know where are the contestants now like Season 1. If you want to watch the Season 1 After Show Event:
(A) Part 1: https://youtu.be/d-LmDumyWgk
(B) Part 2: https://youtu.be/8KrKRtHlB20
Would I recommend this K-Drama? A Definite Yes especially Season 1& 2. And, just OK in Season 3
My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) Season 1 4/5 Stars | Season 2 5/5 | Season 3 3/5